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A Morning View By the Wood Stove

Ever struggle with the same sin over and over? You try, you put all kinds of protections, ways to resist and you still seem to fail. Your head and heart desire more and more of the Holy Spirit to take over, you have excellent spiritual disciplines in place and yet there is still struggle and failure. You may even learn coping skills, say and do the right things, but inside is the constant turmoil and battle of the sin. After all, you have confessed your sin, been forgiven and God forgets it, but why does the battle go on? 

I always used to think I was doing something wrong. Have you ever felt like God has abandoned you? Why when I give something up does it keeps coming back? I try to get it out but it does not go away. Am I doing something wrong? Why fight when it seems like I will never win? Why do I do what I do not want to do?

Paul addresses this very thing in Romans 7:14-25

“So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.


And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.


I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.”                                 - Romans 7:14-25 NLT


Somehow this makes me feel better. The Apostle Paul struggled just like I struggle. Paul struggled like you struggle. There is a war going on. Proclaim Jesus Christ, strive to do what is right ask God to fight the battle and do not live in the guilt of your struggle. 


I know, it is easier said than done...... trust me, I do know.

God be with your children and give them peace.


Peace,

PB



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